The Champion

May 2003 , Page 999

Preview of Member Only Content

For full access: or Become a Member

A Case of Mistaken Identity: Justice Finally Achieved

By Stephen Baylis Hrones

It was October 31, 1994, Halloween night in Boston and nine-year old Jermaine Goffigan went trick-or-treating in his grandmother's housing development in Roxbury, known as Academy Homes. Earlier that evening, a drive by shooting occurred in Bromley-Heath, a rival neighborhood project. Later, Jermaine was playing outside in the yard with other youngsters under the supervision of Kevin Murphy, a former gang member in Academy Homes.

As Jermaine's mother was on the phone, sitting at the table, she looked out the window and noticed two individuals “creeping” along a five-foot high fence in front of her apartment. She noticed one light-skinned and one dark-skinned black male, both wearing “hoodies.” The light-skinned individual had a “medium, low cut afro, trimmed.” He put his hand over a fence surrounding where Jermaine was playing and started firing a gun after pulling back his hoodie. Sixteen to seventeen shots were fired. Jermaine was hit and later died on the way to the hospital. His mot

Want to read more?

The Champion archive is reserved for NACDL members.

NACDL members, please login to read the rest of this article.

Not a member? Join now.
Or click here to see an overview of NACDL Member benefits.